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Critical Criminological Theory: The Definition Of Crime

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Who defines crime? According to Cullen, Agnew, and Wilcox (2014), Critical Criminology Theory states that the powerful and wealthy class define crime. Why can they define what is considered a crime and what is not? The powerful and the wealthy class are made up of a small percentage, yet, that percentage can determine what is considered a crime and what is not. They rule on such things to be able to control the other percentage. For example, Crack vs. Cocaine. Due to cocaine being expensive to buy, crack was developed as a cheap alternative to cocaine. Since crack was a cheap alternative, it became available to low-income minorities. As a result, it became viewed by society as a drug used by the poor and cocaine used by the wealthy. In late

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